Tottenham completed a second-leg turnaround to book a place in the quarter-finals of the Europa Legaue with a 3-1 win over AZ Alkmaar.
AZ travelled to north London with a 1-0 lead from last week’s first leg, in which Spurs produced a severely underwhelming performance.
But Ange Postecoglou’s side dominated this time around, Wilson Odobert and James Maddison putting them ahead on the night.
Peer Koopmeiners levelled the last-16 tie on aggregate after some dreadful Spurs defending, but Odobert had the ultimately decisive say in the 74th minute when he converted from close range at the end of a superb attack to send Tottenham into a last-eight meeting with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Tottenham vs AZ Alkmaar
Tottenham made much the brighter start but struggled to create much in the way of clear-cut chances. That was until Son Heung-min pressed AZ into losing possession deep inside their own half, the ball ricocheting into the path of Dominic Solanke, who unselfishly squared for Odobert to lash home his first Tottenham goal in the 26th minute.
AZ offered little as an attacking force in response until the early stages of a second half they began on the front foot.
But they fell behind for the first time in the tie in the 48th minute, Son at the fore again as his square pass was coolly tucked into the bottom-right corner by Maddison.
There appeared to be no route back into the game for AZ, but Spurs gifted them one 15 minutes after going ahead in the tie.
Lucas Bergvall and Odobert contrived to divert the ball straight into the path of Koopmeiners, who did not need a second invitation as he thundered beyond Guglielmo Vicario.
From back to front… what a goal by Tottenham 😮💨
Wilson Odobert at the double — Spurs back in front in the tie!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/9MTEQcC1le
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 13, 2025
Spurs, though, continued to dictate to proceedings, and the goal that settled the tie was the best of the night. A wonderful free-flowing team move that started deep inside their own half ended with Djed Spence whipping in a left-wing cross for Solanke, who brilliantly flicked the ball in for Odobert to tap in his second.
Yet Tottenham were far from comfortable and seeing out a deserved triumph, and AZ would have levelled if not for the reflexes of Vicario and fine defending from Yves Bissouma, the latter scrambling back to keep out Mees de Wit’s effort on the rebound after his goalkeeper had brilliantly denied former Tottenham striker Troy Parrott.
Tottenham showed little desire to heed that warning and AZ substitute Mexx Meerdink headed over another excellent chance, with Maarten Martens’ side left to rue their profligacy as Spurs hung on to keep their hopes of silverware intact.
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